Braised Veal with Artichokes in Egg and Lemon Sauce

Contrary to the mild dish my mother cooked, I add green chilies or plenty of freshly ground pepper to my veal and artichoke avgolemono.

The veal & Artichoke dish is from my book. PHOTO by Anastasios Mentis.

Serves 4

1/2 cup olive oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless veal shank (or pork loin) cut into 2 -inch cubes
2 1/2 cups coarsely chopped scallions, white plus most of the green part
1-3 jalapeños, seeded and chopped or plenty of freshly ground black or white pepper, to taste
1 cup white wine
1 1/2 cups Chicken or Beef Stock
8 medium artichokes, peeled and halved (see note)
4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh dill
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Egg and Lemon sauce (avgolemono)

2 large eggs
1 teaspoon corn starch
5 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, or more to taste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, or a good pinch Aleppo or Maras pepper, to taste

In a large, deep skillet or a Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat and sauté the meat in batches, turning often, until golden on all sides. Add the onions and jalapeños and sauté for 2-3 minutes more, or until they are soft. Add the wine and as it boils pour in the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the artichokes and a little water if needed —the liquid should almost cover the meat and artichokes . Place an inverted heatproof plate over the meat and artichokes to keep them submerged. Cook uncovered for 15- 20 minutes, or until the artichokes are tender and the meat is fully cooked. With a slotted spoon transfer the meat and artichokes to a platter. If the sauce is too thin increase the heat to high and boil for 3-4 minutes to reduce. You should have about 2-2 1/2 cups broth.

To make the Avgolemono sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs and 2 tablespoons water. Dilute the corn starch in the lemon juice and add to the egg mixture. Whisking constantly, pour slowly with a ladle about half the sauce from the pan into the eggs. Slowly return the egg mixture back to the pot with the cooking liquid, whisking constantly, to prevent the eggs from curdling. As the sauce thickens, add the meat and artichokes to the pan, taste and adjust the seasonings with lemon juice, salt and/or pepper or pepper flakes. Add the rest of the dill, reserving a tablespoon for serving, and simmer for 2 minutes more, to warm through. Serve sprinkling with dill and pepper flakes.

NOTE.

To prepare the artichokes, fill a large bowl with cold water and squeeze the juice of 2 lemons into it (reserve the lemon halves).

Snap off several layers of leaves from each artichoke, pulling them downward to break them off at the base. Rub the cut parts often with the lemon halves as you work, to prevent discoloration. Cut off the top of each artichoke and trim the broken parts of leaves around the stem with a sharp knife, again rubbing the cut surfaces with lemon.

Halve the artichokes and remove the center chokes with a knife or grapefruit spoon; drop each prepared artichoke into the bowl of lemon water.

Drain just before adding to the pan.